Manchester United Transfer News: Martial, Bale, Sessegnon

Three-Way Battle For Martial

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is willing to let Anthony Martial leave this summer and at least three clubs are interested in signing him.

Martial has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford particularly since the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal at the end of January and speculation is rife about his future at the club.

Reports from Italy claim that Juventus are interested and that they have received encouragement from United about a possible summer bid.

Tuttosport even goes as far as to claim that United were willing to let Martial to leave last summer for a fee of around €70million (£61million). It goes on to add that the minimum price United would sell him for this summer is €50million (£44million).

However, Juventus won’t have all their own way in the race for Martial. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs in his situation while Barcelona would also be interested in snapping him up.

That ought to be taken with a pinch of salt. Barca signed Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in January for a fee that could go as high as €142million (£124million) once add-ons and bonuses have been factored in. They are also interested in signing former Manchester United transfer target Antoine Griezmann this summer in a deal that could cost them his €100million (£87million) release fee. A move for the France international could rule out a bid for Martial purely on the grounds of cost.

For his part, Martial is believed to prefer a stay in the Premier League. Arsenal are also being linked.

Bale Talks Down Bayern Link

One player who won’t be on his way to Manchester United is Gareth Bale. The Wales international has been a transfer target for the Red Devils since around 2012 when he was still at Tottenham Hotspur.

Bale is being tipped to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. But rather than being linked with a move to Old Trafford he is now believed to be a target for Bayern Munich.

“You cannot rule anything out,” he told German newspaper Bild when asked about the Bayern link.”Currently I play for Real Madrid and I enjoy that,” he added.

United’s interest in Bale is believed to have cooled with Alexis Sanchez’s arrival in January.

United Want Sessegnon

Manchester United are hoping to persuade Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon to move to Old Trafford if he decides to leave the Championship side this summer.

Sessegnon has scored 15 league goals for the Cottagers so far this season although that merely confirms his versatility down the left flank. It is that versatility that appeals to Jose Mourinho.

The United boss will sign at least one full back – possibly two – this summer with Luke Shaw being tipped to leave the club. Sessegnon could leave Craven Cottage with Fulham expected to demand at least £20million.

However, United will face competition for his signature from Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs are believed to have had talks with Sessegnon’s representatives about a possible move across London and are in pole position to secure his signature.